(Aug. 5, 2011 - by Harold Goerzen) Graduates of an HCJB Global Voice radio training course in a historic city near the Russia-Estonia border a year ago has led to the establishment of local ministry team and an Internet radio station.

HCJB Global-Russia first conducted a basic radio training course in the ancient city of Pskov in 2010 at the invitation of local believers. Eleven students representing different evangelical churches took part in the event.

After the initial course, attendees organized a radio ministry team in Pskov, a picturesque city of 200,000 that dates back more than 1,100 years, known for its stately Orthodox churches, historic city structures and colorful rivers.

"They started to produce Christian programs that would be attractive to a wide range of audiences," explained David, director of the Europe/Eurasia Region. "When they increased their proficiency and the quality of programs, they began preparing broadcasts for Tartu Family Radio in Estonia which has a powerful AM signal that covers the entire region."

Since these small beginnings, team members decided to start their own Internet radio station, Radio Angel (http://radio-angel.ru/). In addition to developing programs tailored for listeners online, this team has begun developing relationships with producers in other cities and countries.

In late June the director of HCJB Global-Russia visited this local team and helped with technical questions, solving a few technical glitches. "Then we spent two days together and conducted a technical seminar for those who are responsible for recordings and audio production in this studio," he said.

David added that it's "encouraging and fulfilling to see the energy and enthusiasm of this young group of media pioneers. They have taken the training from HCJB Global and applied it in their own way to their own audiences. As a mission, we get to serve partners like those in Pskov around the former Soviet Union, and to the ends of the world. We come alongside and enable them to be successful."

Source: HCJB Global